dithering from 24-bit to cd audio

  • Thread starter Thread starter shackrock
  • Start date Start date
S

shackrock

New member
so i'm ready for the final mixdown.

i am using delta 44
ntrack studio

will be putting it into sonic foundry cd architect to burn to a master cd...then probably making just cd-r burn of it (or maybe sending out to get 500 burnt or so).

anyway, what settings should i click on ntrack?

mixdown to:
16-bit? soundcard setting? 24-bit?

check the dithering box? if so, how many bits?


etc.

thanks guys.
 
Yo ShakaRakadoo:

I'm sure someone will correct my words if I'm off base, {bass?} but 16 bit is the common denominator for CD burning.

I can record on my 2816 in 24 bit but cannot burn a CD in that mode. [I can, however, run the 24 bit out into cassette or DAT.]

So, not being familiar with your gear, I'm guessing you have to push the 16 bit dither button either hither or thither or yon.







Green Hornet :D ;) :cool:
 
The Green Hornet said:

I can, however, run the 24 bit out into cassette or DAT.

Green Hornet :D ;) :cool:
Click to expand...

But won't that naturally compress the audio?
 
Yo Scott:

The 2816 doesn't compress audio. When or if I record in 24 bit, I merely set the faders, play with EQ, Dynamics, & reverb; when I get the tracks all set up, I just run the music through the stereo outs on the back of the 2816 direct to tape or DAT. [I don't have a DAT but if I did I could use it.}

At any rate, the result is pretty good because I have good cassette unit by Sony and it has adjustable record input so I can run it hot enough to get some good sounds.

Green Hornet :cool: :p :cool: :D
 
i'm definately looking for mixdowns to a .wav though...16-bit, 44.1khz - for output to a burnt cd.

that is really the onlyyyyyyy option for me/these bands.....ha

so i'm just looking for some input specifically with ntrack i suppose...?
 
really guys.....anyone? haha.

or at least direct me to where i can find this crap out?! haha.
 
shackrock,

First, you have to know if your multitracking software (ntrack) is "converting" or "truncating" to 16-Bit (from 24-Bit.) Find that out; & get back.

mark4man
 
from the sonic foundry cd architect features list:

"High-quality resampling and dithering with noiseshaping"

So it seems as if that product should be able to get you to 16/44.1

I don't have either ntrack or cd architect.
 
Hey,

Ntrack will resample if I remember but I always used my wav editor to resample before burning. Also if you are still going to process your wav further i.e. "master" you should wait to dither.

Dither after all processing is complete.

Rusty K
 
Good point Rusty

BTW. If you do the conversion without the dithering you might just as well started your recordings with 16Bits/44.1kHz because without dithering the extra 8 bits will be more or less be thrown away.
You can choose to save your files as wave files (.wav) in 24 bits and take it to a mastering studio. If you want to do it yourself experiment with different types of dithering by listening to the results.
Let your ears and monitors decide.

PS. Standard for audio cd is 44.1kHz/16Bit. That was the question in the first place, if I read it well, wasn't it?

Good luck
Henry
 
shackrock,

Forget my earlier post...didn't quite get the jist of the question.

Basically, do everything FanTC & Rusty said...but also, I believe your original question was relative to the Bit-Depth of the Dither setting; & that would be the same as your destination medium, which is 16 (if you're completing the project.)

mark4man
 
shackrock,
When you have your stereo wav all ready to go and are in the mixdown window, make it mixdown at 16 bit stereo, 44100Hz, and it will make an identical stereo track of whatever you had, making it 16 bits 44100 Hz, and it will be ready to burn on a cdr.
 
"The 2816 doesn't compress audio. When or if I record in 24 bit, I merely set the faders, play with EQ, Dynamics, & reverb; when I get the tracks all set up, I just run the music through the stereo outs on the back of the 2816 direct to tape or DAT."

I have the same setup, but i have two options. I can either send the final mix to my computer into soundforge and burn a cd from there(will my mix stay in 24 bit), or i can take my final mix and go straight into a JVC recording cd burner. (will it stay in 24 bit?) What do you think is better, and do you do anything to the audio in terms of dithering before you send it out to your tape deck?
 
Mentil69 ... I have a 4416 and have done the same as you are suggesting a few times, I record in 24bit and burn the CD to external CD burner without dithering. So far I have done this thru the stereo analog outs to the stereo analog ins on my external burner. Buy doing this I have maintained the sound of the recording as recorded in the AW4416 and have the flexibility to make a louder CD if i want, then possible burning to the internal CDR on the 4416.. Is that 24bit still...not sure). What I want to try next is digital out to digital in but I am not sure if that will work with out dithering or not, once I try it I will let you know, but if you try something let me know.

I am not 100% sure but if you sent it from the 2816 to soundforge in 24 bit mode and then burned the CD from sound forge, I would think you would have to dither down to 16 Bit or you would be able to burn the CD. Does soundforge recognize the recording when you send from the 2816 as a 16 bit or 24 bit recording, does it tell you? If soundforge knows it is 24bit you won't able to burn the CD without dithering.
 
ya that sounds good, but my external JVC burner would be kind of a bitch to setup currently, so where can i find out if burning to the internal burner with dithering will result in the same quality as burning to the external burner without dithering?
 
Mentil I am not sure where you could find that out but my guess is probably not because dithering down to 16bit from 24bit something has to lost. Also I know a lot of people have had problems getting the same overall volume when buring to the internal burner (compared to the volume they heard when listening to the tracks through the 4416) and have had to result to some tricks to get the volume to sound like a industry CD. Not sure if this problem exist on the 2816 or not. Going to the external burner I can control that and even raise the DB level if I desire.

The thing to do is try it and see if you are satisifed with the results with the internal CD-R and let your ears be the judge. And if the quality and overall volume of the sound is as good as what you are hearing prior to the burn directly on your 2816. Unfornately doing this stuff home takes a lot of trial and error trying to get it just right. But you know what, I bet they do much the same thing when preparing a professional master, they just have more experience on what worked best in the past to get the sound the way they want.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top